Detachable screen for automobiles



Dec. 6, 1938. G|L| 2,139,156

DETACHABLE SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 2, 1936 InvenZ-or-:-

Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE" 2,139,156 nn'mcmnmscaEEN Fo'a AUTOMOBILES Leroy G. Gill, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 2, 1936, Serial No. 103,680

' 2 Claims. (cine-14) My invention relates to screens for automobiles,and its principal object is to provide a screen which can be easily andquickly attached to and removed from the windows of the vehicle.

It is apparent that, notwithstanding the increasing number of accidentswhich are caused during summer driving by the entrance of insects,birds, and so forth through the open windows of vehicles, the troubleand expense of puteneral .use.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the driver ofa vehicle may ex- With these and other objects in view the inventionconsists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts which will be hereinafter fully described, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodimentthereof, in which drawing- Figure 1 is an elevation looking from theinterior of the vehicle showing one method of applying my device to thefront window on the drivers side. I

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 .of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 2 but drawn to anenlarged scale in order to show certain details more clearly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation drawn to enlarged scale showing onemethod of locking the screen in place.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing a hinge for carrying a swingableportionof the screen.

Figure 6 is an elevation showing a retainer for the screen frame, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1illustrating the application of my invention to a one-piece screen.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews. I

l is the door of the vehicle and 2 designates the molding which definesthe window opening theretti in, the said molding being usually of sheetmetal ting in and takingout screens has prevented their as shown. 3 isthe window sash slidable up and down within the openings 4 in themolding, the said sash being of course lowered within the body of thedoor when the screen is in use. The openings 4 are'lined with the usualstrips ll of 5 felt or other soft material which surround the edges ofthe sash.

Around the inner face 2| of the molding is a metal frame 5 provided witha flange portion 5| which extends inwards to the back surface of themolding and engages therewith, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. Withinthe frame 5 is also a channel 5| which extends therearound and isadapted to receive the'edge 6| of the wire screen 6, the said edgeconsisting of a U-shaped piece 'of metal extending around the peripheryof the 'screen and permanently secured thereto. In order to secure thescreen in place, the frame 5 is provided with a second member52, theinner edge of which is provided with a flange 53 which engages a flange54 on the main portion of the frame and is provided with an inturnededge 55 which engages the stiffened edge iii of the screen and retainsit in place. The member 52 as a whole is secured in place at one end byan arcuate projection 22 upon the molding and at the other end by a lookI of the tumbler type having a bolt 'll adapted to engage a slot in themolding and provided with a key 12. a

In all of-the windows of the vehicle which are provided with slidingsashes, with the exception "of the drivers window, the frame as abovedescribed will extend entirely around the window opening and the screenwill be in one piece. In the window near the driver however, in order to35 enable him to extend his hand therethrough, I

provide a separate screen 6A which is connected by hinges B to avertical cross member 56 upon the main frame, and the screen portion 6Ais provided with a. sub-frame 9 and with pivoted 40 catches ti adaptedto engage the main frame ii and to prevent the screen be. from beingpushed outwards when the car is parked with the doors locked. A coilspring 92 upon the hinge tends to keep the portion EA of the screen in aclosed position, the said spring being strong enough to preventvibration of the parts and at the same time allow it to be manuallyoperated. When the hinged screen iiA is used, the flange 55 is omittedin the opening which receives it. The w flange, however, is providedupon the vertical pdrtion 52' of the frame 52. The portion 52' may inthis case be secured in the position by other means than the lock ll,such as, for example, the screw lit which threadeclly engages the member58. In this modification, the iixed portion 6 of the screen isremoved bytaking 01! the frame 52, while the hinged portion A is removed by takingout the pins of the hinges 8, the frame 6 being left permanently withinthe window opening.

During the winter season when the screens are not required, I provide intheir place sheets 0! Celluloid or other transparent material havingreinforced edges similar to those upon the wire screens and held inposition within the frame in the same manner. These transparent sheets,being spaced to some extent apart from the window glass 3, as will beobserved from the sectional plan view Figure 3, cause currents of air topass up close to the inner surface of the glass and so carry awaymoisture which would otherwise collect upon the surface and obscure thevision of the operator.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference tothe drawing that I have provided a screen which is simple inconstruction and convenient to operate, and while I have hereindescribed and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art to which the same relates thatvarious modifications in detail may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, what aisaue I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In a device of the character described, the combination, with anautomobile having a window opening therein, of a hollow mouldingdefining said opening and having a slot extending around the inner facethereof, a frame of channel-like section extending therearound andhaving its base passing through said slot with one leg of the channeloverlying the rear surface of the moulding, a screen having a stiffeningmember upon its periphery and fitting within said frame, and a coverdetachably secured to said frame and adapted to retain said screentherewithin.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with anautomobile having a window opening therein, of a hollow mouldingdefining said opening and having a slot extending around the inner facethereof, a frame of channel-like section extending therearound andhaving its base passing through said slot with one leg of the channeloverlying the rear surface of the moulding, a screen having a stiffeningmember upon its periphery and fitting within said frame, a coverdetachably secured to said frame and adapted to retain said screentherewithin, and means for securing said cover in place.

LEROY G. GILL.

